I appreciate those of you who read my original post and provided actionable solutions toward (hopefully) a functional gun in the end.

I realize stoeger m2000 in particular isn't popular and even realize there is a good reason for that. But I just refuse to beleive a gun that successfully fired thousands of shells over years and years cannot be repaired to that same level of reliability for a WHOLE lot less money than to trash it and go buy a beretta (which incidently was the replacement for this gun when it quit on me originally) I've got an a400 and it's wonderful no doubt, but I'm looking for a loaner. I like my buddy's and family members but not enough to go buy a beretta to accasionally loan it out.